H*3533(Rat #0624, Act #0547 of 1988)  General Bill, By R.O. Kay, K.E. Bailey, 
L.E. Bennett, E.D. Foxworth, P.B. Harris, J.C. Hearn, A. Humphries, W.H. Jones, 
T.T. Mappus, D.E. Martin, M. McLeod, J.H. Nesbitt, L. Phillips, C.H. Rice, 
Sharpe, S.V. Shelton, Townsend and L.S. Whipper
 A Bill to amend Section 47-5-100, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to rabies control and the confinement, examination, or destruction of
 a biting or attacking animal, so as to delete certain provisions and to
 provide that the removal of the head of an animal suspected of having rabies
 must be performed by a licensed veterinarian but that the county health
 department shall provide for the removal of the head if there is no
 veterinarian practicing within the county where the suspected animal is
 located or if no veterinarian located within the county will remove the
 head.-amended title

   01/14/88  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-404
   01/14/88  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources HJ-405
   02/24/88  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture and Natural Resources HJ-1415
   03/01/88  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, March 8, 1988 HJ-1567
   03/08/88  House  Amended HJ-1812
   03/08/88  House  Read second time HJ-1813
   03/09/88  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1840
   03/10/88  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-27
   03/10/88  Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources SJ-27
   04/19/88  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture and Natural Resources SJ-27
   04/27/88  Senate Amended SJ-91
   04/27/88  Senate Read second time SJ-92
   04/28/88  Senate  Read third time SJ-31
   04/28/88  Senate Returned SJ-31
   05/04/88  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-3547
   05/12/88         Ratified R 624
   05/17/88         Signed By Governor
   05/17/88         Effective date 05/17/88
   05/17/88         Act No. 547
   06/09/88         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-100, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO RABIES CONTROL AND THE CONFINEMENT, EXAMINATION, OR DESTRUCTION OF A BITING OR ATTACKING ANIMAL, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN PROVISIONS AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE REMOVAL OF THE HEAD OF AN ANIMAL SUSPECTED OF HAVING RABIES MUST BE PERFORMED BY A LICENSED VETERINARIAN BUT THAT THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE HEAD IF THERE IS NO VETERINARIAN PRACTICING WITHIN THE COUNTY WHERE THE SUSPECTED ANIMAL IS LOCATED OR IF NO VETERINARIAN LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY WILL REMOVE THE HEAD.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Animals; rabies; removal of head

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-100 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 47-5-100. The county health department shall serve notice upon the owner of a dog or cat which has attacked or bitten a person to confine the animal at the expense of the owner upon his premises or at a county pound or other place designated in the notice for at least ten days after the animal has attacked or bitten a person. The licensed graduate veterinarian, the rabies control officer, or his assistants must be permitted by the owner of the pet or other animal which has attacked or bitten a person to examine the animal at any time, and daily if desired, within the ten-day period of confinement, to determine if the animal shows symptoms of rabies. No person shall obstruct or interfere with the rabies control officer or his assistants in making the examination. The removal of the head of an animal suspected of having rabies must be performed by a licensed veterinarian, but the county health department shall provide for the removal of the head if there is no veterinarian practicing within the county where the suspected animal is located or if no veterinarian located within the county will remove the head."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.